SYNTHESIS AND TEM STUDIES OF METAL-CLUSTERS DISPERSED IN POLYMERS

Solvated metal atoms were obtained by cocondensation of metals and mon omers at 77 K. Stable colloids were formed upon warming. Several collo ids using iron and nickel have been prepared with the following monome rs: styrene, methyl methacrylate, ethyl methacrylate and butyl methacr ylate. The colloids were polymerized with two different initiators, be nzoyl peroxide (BPO) and 2,2'-bis-azoisobutyronitrile (AIBN). The meta l clusters should be stabilized by styrene between the aromatic ring a nd the vinyl group, and in the acrylate series between the vinyl and t he carbonyl group. The yields of the polymers of Ni-styrene and Fe-sty rene range from 10-70% and the molecular weights range from 10.000 to 250.000, even higher than the homopolymer. Electron micrographs were o btained by a Jeol JEM 1200 EX II with 4 Angstrom resolution, for the c olloids and the polymers. The colloids exhibited a smaller particle si ze than the metal clusters in the polymers. The styrene with either Fe or Ni clusters should be around 100 Angstrom colloidal sizes. A drama tic increase in the polymer was observed. Very big clusters in the dop e polyacrylate were found. During polymerization particle size growing and size increase were observed.